Ironing machine



Nov. 3, 1942. P. E. FRANTZ IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENI'OR. PAUZ PEA/V72 wgm N Nov. 3, 1942. p, E, FRANTZ momma mourns 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1941 INVENTOR. PA (/1 5 PEA/V72 Nov. 3, 1.942., P FRANTZ 2,301,168

IRONING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

PA (/1 F'IP/M/TZ 1 1 23,? JM/M Patented Nov. 3, 1942 Paul E.

Electri Frantz, Euclid, Ohio, aasignor to The Apes cal Manufacturing Company, Cleveland,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 5, 1941, Serial No. 377,543

Claims.

This invention relates to an ironing machine and more particularly to the gearing and control for the gearingof a domestic ironing machine.

It. is among the objects of my invention to provide an ironing machine with a driven roll shaft adapted to be connected to and rotate with a driving member through a planetary speed reducing unit carried by said shaft.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an ironer having a driven roll shaft, a driving member rotatable on said shaft, and speed-reducing means interposed between said driving member and the shaft whereby the shaft may be rotated at the same speed or a lower speed than the driving member.

It is a further object 'of my invention to provide an ironer according to the preceding object in which the speed-reducing device includes a planetary gear drive concentric with and supported by the driven shaft. v

It is a further object of my invention to provide an ironer according to the preceding objects in which the connection between the driving member and the driven shaft includes a spring clutch adapted to transmit the drive from the driving member to the driven shaft throughout all speeds of the driven shaft,

It is a further object of my invention to provide an ironer according to the preceding objects inwhich the speed-reducing mechanism is utilized in the chain of drive between the driving member and the driven shaft throughout all speeds of the driven shafts.

of the ironing machine gearing;

Figure 3 is an end view with parts broken Figure 7 is a view showing the gear carrier of the reduced speed mechanism with the sun gear and planet gear in phantom outline;

Figure 8 is an end view of a ring element included in the'reduced speed mechanism;

Figure 9 is an end view of a plate element employed in the reduced speed mechanism;

Figure 10 is a view of a clutch element employed in a reduced speed mechanism;

Figure 11 is an end view showing parts of the reduced speed mechanism as assembled;

Figure 12 is an end view similar to Figure 11 showing the sliding clutch and clutch control awayshowing the control means for the two- 7 speed drive;

Figure 4 is'an elevation with parts in section showing the speed control in a normal speed position;

Figure 5 is an elevation similar to Figure 4 showing the parts in a neutral or "off position;

Figure 6 is an expanded view of elements included' in the reduced speed planetary gearing mechanism; Y

members for-the reduced speed mechanism.

Figure 13 is a sectional view of a modified form of reduced speed mechanism;

Figure 14. is an elevation of the modification shown in Figure 13; and

Figure 15 is a sectional view of -a modified form of reduced-speed mechanism.

My invention relates generally to that type of domestic ironer comprising a heated shoe and a rotating roll with means to effect relative movement between the shoe and the roll so that garments may be ironed therebetween.

The wide current use of domestic ironing machines has brought about a recognition of the need for a driving mechanism for the ironer roll which will permit the operation of the roll at more than one speed of rotation. This need arises from the fact that the moisture content and the thickness of garments vary through a relatively wide range. For instance, the hem of a garment may present two or three thicknesses 7 of fabric as compared to a singlethickness of fabric in the main body of the garment and it is necessary for satisfactory ironing results to remove the moisture from the hem aswell as the main body of the garment. Thus it is desirable to run the thickened portions of a garment or heavy garments containing considerable moisture through the ironer at a lower speed than that employed for ironing thinner fabrics or fabrics low in moisture content.

Among the expedients employed to provide a 5 date the added mechanism. According to my invention the two-speed gearing is so designed, proportioned and so arranged asvto cooperate with the balance of the ironing gearing mechanism that the same may be incorporated in a gear case proportioned to house a conventional. single-speed driving mechanism.

Among the advantages flowing from the arrangement I have. provided, is, that it is unnecessary for the ironer manufacturer, to provide two separate and distinct ironer assemblies, one for a single-or direct speed drive and another for the higher-priced range including a two speed drive. This advantage will become more apparent by reference to the single-speed ironer disclosed in the patent to Racklyeft 2,087,447 and the application of my invention to an ironer of the type disclosed in said patent.

Generally speaking, I have obtained the objects above referred to and the advantages associated therewith by the provision of a driving member freely rotatable about a driven shaft. a planet gear carrier secured to said shaft and a coil spring clutch arranged to transmit the drive from the driving member through the planetary gear carrier and thence to the driven shaft.

Referring to the drawings, I indicates a gear caseor housing which is adapted-to be mounted at one end of a stand or table, a pair of bosses 2 and 3 project axially of the gear case and support shafts 4 and 5 designed to bring about the relative movement between a heated shoe and the roll and to rotatethe roll with respect to the shoe. The shaft] is designed to rock an eccentric within the roll to move the roll toward and away from the shoe. The shaft 5 provided 5 with pinion 5a drives a ring gear carried by the roll when the roll is moved into engagement with the shoe. Reference is made to the application of J. W. Racklyeft, Serial No. 111,695, filed November 19, 1936, for a more complete disclosure of the roll mounting and drive therefor. The specific mounting for the roll with respect'to the shoe and the manner in which the roll is rotated is the invention of said Racklyeft and since the said construction forms no essenc5 tial part of my invention,. further description of that part of the ironer is omitted. Reference is made to said patented Racklyeft construction as providing the environment of my invention.

The power for the operation of the ironer gearing is introduced through the medium of a belt I engageable by a motor pulley, not shown, to rotate the pulley 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow 9. The belt pulley is secured to the shaft I0 supported in opposed bearing bosses II and I2 in the gear case I. The shaft i0 is provided with a worm i3, intermediate its supported ends, which is adapted to mesh with a driving worm gear I 4 mounted at right anglesv thereto. A support and bearing sleeve l5 are carried by the boss 3 and project inwardly of the gear case to afl'ord a mounting for the gearing mechanism and a bearing support for the driven roll shaft 5. The driving worm gear I4 is freely rotatable on the sleeve i5 and is adapted, to tram a sleeve l6 at the left side thereof (see Fig. a

A roll shifting eccentric i1 is mounted on the sleeve l5 and is provided with a hub portion coaxially arranged with the member l3 so that a spring clutch l3 which surrounds said hub and member l5 may transmit the rotating drive from ii to the eccentric H. The movement of the eccentric I1 is transmitted through the eccentric strap I! to a crank 23 secured to the inner end of shaft 4. The engagement and disengagement of the spring clutch so as to effect eccentric movement is controlled by a manually-operated shaft 2i having an inturned end 22 adapted to engage spaced cars 23 on a clutch plate 24.

It will be understood that the construction is such that the direction of rotation of the driving gear I4 tends to wrap the spring clutch member l3 tightly about the hub on member I1 and the sleeve l5 and that such wrapping action may be interrupted by moving the end 22 of the shaft 2| into the path of the cars 23. The ears 23 are preferably spaced from each other so that a half revolution of the eccentric I1 is obtained each time the shaft 2| rocks the end 22 out of the path of said ears. A spring on the shaft 2| normally returns the end 22 to an engaging position with ears 23 after each manual operation of the shaft 2|. The shaft 2| may be operated by the hand control 25 .or by the knee control 25 so that the eccentric I'I moves 180 upon each actuation and thus rocks the shaft 4 to move the roll toward or away from the heated shoe upon each actuation.

formed braking segment 21 which is adapted to be moved into the path of a peripheral brake shoe 25 each time the eccentric is rocked to a position where the roll is in engagement with the ironing shoe. A coil spring 29 urges the shoe 23 against the segment 21 at a time when the shoe is against the roll,and the advantage of this arrangement is that the roll recedes gradually from itsengaged position with the shoe when the clutch i3 i released.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in this art that considerable pressure is developed by the engagement between the shoe and the roll and that the resilient mounting of the shoe would tend to accelerate the movement of the roll away from the shoe in the absence of a retarding force such as provided by the brake shoe and segment engagement 28-41.

The driving worm gear I4 is provided with an integrally-formed hub 30 which has fixed thereto a sleeve-3| (see Fig. 2). A clutch plate 32 is mounted for free rotation on the sleeve 3| with the radial expanse of the plate supported by bearing against the side of the driving gear l4. A coil spring 33 surrounds the sleeve 3| and an upturned end 34 of the spring clutch is disposed between spaced lugs 35:: and 36a formed on the facev of the clutch plate 32. The axial extent of the spring clutch member 33 exceeds the length of the sleeve 3| so as to embrace the hub 35 of a driving gear 33. The end 33 of the coil spring clutch adjacent the gear 36 projects outwardly into the path of the pin 39 projecting axially from the radial wall of the gear 36. The direction of rotation of the driving gear I4 is in the direction of the arrow 40 and the direction of the spiral in the spring clutch 33 is suchthat the coil spring tends to be wrapped tightly about the coaxial portions of the sleeve 3| and hub 35 so as to transmit the rotating movement of the driving gear M to the driving gear 35.

The normal engaged position of the spring a clutch 33 is interrupted by moving the end portion 44 of shaft 45 into the path of ears 45 projecting from the radial face of the clutch plate 32. The disengaging clutch action above described is effected by manually moving the control lever 41 secured to a portion of the shaft 45 projecting exteriorly of the gear case I.

All of the rotating movement transmitted to The eccentric I1 is provided with an integrally the shaft from the driving gear I4 comes through the gear carrier element 48 secured by threaded engagement to the shaft 5. It will be understood by means hereinafter described that the gear carrier 8. may be engaged to rotate in unison with the driving gear It or engaged to rotate at a lower speed than the driving gear II. The means to accomplish said reduced speed drive comprises a planetary gearing arrangement concentric with and supported by the shaft 5. More speciflcallythe member 36 is provided with internal gear teeth 58 adapted to mesh with the teeth of a planetary gear 5| rotatably moimted on the gear carrier 48. The planetary gear 5| is also in mesh with the teeth of a sun gear 52 which is rotatably mounted on a reduced end portion of the shaft 5. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that whenever the sun gear 52 is restrained from rotation upon its axis, the planetary gear 5i will be constrained to rotate on its own axis through its orbit. Thus the planet gear 5i will "track around the sun gear 52 and move the gear carrier about its axis at a speed less than the speed of rotation of the driving gear 86. It will also be understood that when the sun gear is free for rotation upon its own axis and the planetary gear ii is clutched thereto, the gear carrier, sun gear, planet gear and driving gear 36 will all rotate as a unit so as to rotate the shaft 5 at the same speed as the driving gear II.

In the preferred form of my invention a ringlike element 68 is mounted for free rotation upon an annular shoulder ii of a clutch plate member 82. A plurality of spaced pins 63 project axially from the plate i2 and are received in correspondingly spaced holes 84 in the sun gear 82. The ring element ill is notched as at 85 to embrace the head of a screw 6 anchored to the gear carrier coaxial with the planetary gear ii. The ring element 88 is also provided with spaced lugs I adapted to cooperate with the inturned end 8 of a clutch member 89. The arrangement thus described provides that when the clutch member 58 is moved transversely of the axis of the shaft 5, as provided by slot 10 in the member 68, the ring 68 and the gear carrier l8 are free to rotate about the axis of shaft 5. When the gear carrier 48 and ring ill are thus freed for rotation and the sun gear restrained through the medium of pins 63 and member I, the planetary gear will be constrained to track around the sun gear to eifect a reduced speed or low speed drive to the shaft 5. A clutch member 69 is mounted for sliding movement transverse of the shaft 5 by the guide segments II and I2 spot-welded or otherwise fixed to the member 82. A bearing sleeve Ila extends through the member 62 and the slot Iii in element 68 to mount said member and element on the shaft 5. A coiled spring 13 anchored at one end as at 14 to plate I2 and at the other end at 15 on the clutch member 8!, normallyurges the clutch member 69 transversely of the shaft 5 to the position shown in Figure 12, wherein further movement of the member 69 is prevented by a stop 16 formed on the member H. The entire two speed assembly is retained in position on shaft 5 by the washer and clip to and Sb respectively.

With the parts in the position shown in Fig. 12, it will be observed that the tail piece ii of the clutch member 69 is in the path of the lugs 61 so that the sun gear 52, the ring member 88 same speed as the driving members It and I6. and thus the ironer roll is rotated at a normal 7 or full speed drive. When, however, the clutch and the gear carrier 48 rotate as a unit at the 76 member ll is moved transversely in opposition to spring 18, as shown in Fig. 3, the tail piece 68 on the member 80 is moved out of the path of the lugs 61 on ring it so that the gear carrier is free to rotate, theuplanetary gear will move through its orbit about the sun gear and effect a reduced or low speed drive to the shaft 5.

According to my invention, the control shaft 45, arranged to establish a drive from the driving gear it through the spring clutch 33 to the driving gear 88, also controls the speed which is to be maintained through the planetary gearing. The arrangement'is such that the control of the spring clutch 83, the establishment of normal or direct speed drive, and the establishment of reduced or low-speed drive, occur in sequence. The construction provides that the first portion of the movement of the control shaft 45 effects engagement of the spring clutch 33 and the second portion of the shaft movement in the same direction establishes a reduced speed drive.

a The result is an interlock effect which precludes the establishment of a reduced speed drive position without first effecting an engagement of the coiled spring clutch through which the drive is maintained.

The above-described functions are preferably obtained by the control mechanism illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive.

Referring to Fig. 3, the gear case I is provided with a web section 88 upon which is pivoted a lever comprising two interconnected sections 8i and 82, The two lever parts are pivoted to the web 80 of the gear case by means of stud 83 and the free end of the lever part 8i is provided with a shoulder 84 and a tail piece which are adapted to cooperated with the clutch element 69 and the portion 16 of a guide plate H on member 62.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 3 that when the two-speed clutch assembly is rotated in the direction of the arrow 86, and the lever 8i is moved in a clockwise direction into the path of the parts 16 and 69a, the clutch member 69 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. -3 and the tail piece 16 will be restrained in the opening be- 8i will be moved into the position shown in Fig.-

3 with an impositive, soft, engaging action, it is moved to said position through the medium of the spring 81 carried by studs 89 and 88 integral with lever parts 82 and Bi, respectively. This arrangement provides that the lever part 82 may be positively moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 and that lever part 8i will be impositive- 1y moved and free to rock about the pivot 83 in response to a camming action by the part 16 as it traverses the portion 84 of the lever 8 i The composite lever unit 8i--82 is normally urged in a counter-clockwise direction by the spring 98a anchored at one end on the web 88 and at the other end on the lever part 8|. A lug 8i limits the movement of the lever part 82 in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the lever part 8i in response to the urging of the coil spring 81, The free end of the lever part 82, such as indicated at 92, is embraced by side walls of a slot formed in the outer end of the pivoted arm 88, The other end of the arm 92 is pivoted for free rocking movement on the control shaft 2|, and the intermediate portion of the arm .3 is shaped to provide a cam 94 adapted to cooperate with a cam 85 carried by the control shaft 45.

With the control shaft 45 in a neutral or 011" position as shown in Fig. 5, the portion 44 of the shaft is in engagement with the ears 5 on the clutch plate so that the spring clutch 33 is disengaged, When, however, the control shaft is turned in a counter-clockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 4, the cam 95 engages the cam 94 on the lever 93 so as to free the end 44 of the shaft l5 from the clutch ears 46. This effects a spring clutch engagement so that the full speed or direct drive is established to the roll shaft 5. Thereafter, in the event a low-speed drive is desired, the control shaft 55 may be rocked still further in a counter-clockwise direction so that the cam 95 cooperates with the cam 94 on the lever 93 to rock the composite lever unit 8l82 to the position shown in Fig. 3. The slotted free end of the arm 93 is preferably provided' with an adjusting screw and lock nut assembly 9l98 to provide an accurate positioning of the composite lever assembly 2l32.

Although in the preferred form of my invention I have employed a clutching device for the planetary gear reduction which includes a clutch member sliding transversely of the driven shaft, I am aware that other forms of clutching devices may be employed. In Figs. 13 and 14 I have illustrated a clutch arrangement for the planetary, two-speed mechanism which provides for automatic engagement. In this form of my invention, the driven shaft 15 is provided with a gear carrier I00 encompassed by a driving gear Nil constructed and arranged substantially as in the preferred form. The gear carrier is provided with a planetary gear 32 mounted thereon by cap screw and washer 503-4164. A sun gear 805 is mounted for rotation upon the end of the driven shaft 5 and a uni-directional clutch comprising rollers lee-m is arranged between the sun gear M5 and the shaft The roller clutch and sun gear are retained in operative position on the shaft 5 by a cap screw and disc 938-4199. Referring to Fig. 14, it will be observed that when the driving gear Hill is rotated in the direction of arrow Ht, it will tend to turn the planetary ear M2 on its axis in a clockwise direction and this tendency will in turn tend to rotate the sun gear in a counter-clockwise dirction, as indicated by arrow i i i.

The roller clutch assembly includes coil springs H2 and H3 which act to move the rollers into the reduced or tapered opening between the roller clutch housing wall and the driven shaft 5 and thus the sun gear becomes automatically clutched to the shaft 5 and further rotation of the sun gear with respect to the shaft is prevented.

As soon as the sun gear becomes clutched to r the shaft, as above described, further rotation of the planet gear upon its axis is prevented and thus the gear carrier, sun gear and planet rotate as a unit about the axis of the shaft 5 so as to effect a direct or full-speed drive of the ironer."

The sun gear is proportioned axially so that the teeth thereof project axially beyond the vertical face of the planetary gear assembly and when it is desired to establish a low speed or reduced speed drive, a stop member indicated at H5 is projected into the path of the sun gear N15. The restraint thus imposed on the sun gear frees the roller clutch from clutching engagement between the sun gear and the driven shaft 5. With the sponse to the drive imparted to the planet gear through the driving gear II.

The stop member III may be fixed to a rocking lever corresponding to the lever ill in the preferred form of my invention and thus the single lever 41 may control the neutral, full speed and second speed drive through the ironer.

The modification shown in Fig. 15 corresponds generally in operation and results to that shown in Figs. 13 and 14. In the form of Fig. 15, however, a uni-directional clutch comprising a coil spring clutch element H1 is arranged to automatically clutch the sun gear I25 to the driven shaft 5. The sun gear is provided with a recess to receive the intumed end H6 of the coil spring clutch and the other end of the coil spring clutch terminates in a bent end H 8 received within an aperture in a clutch plate I22. The plate I22 is provided on its periphery with lugs H9 adapted to engage a stop member constructed to move into the path of the lugs. The stop member may be of the form such as illustrated at H5 in Fig. 14. The clutch assembly in this modification may be retained in place on the shaft 5 by a washer and cap screw it'll-HI.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 12, 14 and 15, it will be observed that the engagement and disengagement effected by the uni-directional clutch may take place at any phase during the rotating movement of the sun gear, as distinguished from the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein there is but one point during each revolution of the shaft 5 where the clutch will be operated. It will be observed that the stop member H5 is constructed so as to prevent rotation of the sun gear in either direction whenever the stop is moved to disengaging position and thus variations in load imposed will not adversely efiect the clutch operation.

All forms of planetary gear clutching devices I have shown provide certain advantages, the preferred form being characterized by the fact that it comprises a number of simple, stamped metal parts and requires no internal machining of the sun gear to accommodate a roller clutch. The modified forms of Figs, 13 to 15 are characterized by being automatic in their clutching action and comprising relatively fewer parts than that of the preferred form.

Although I have shown and described three forms of my invention in considerable detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An ironer mechanism comprising a gear case, a boss formed in one side of said gear case, a driven shaft rotatably supported by said boss, a driving gear rotatably mounted on said driven shaft, a hub on said driving gear, a second driving gear rotatably mounted on said shaft, a hub on said second driving gear coaxial with the hub on the first driving gear, a coil spring clutch encompassing said two hub portions, a planetary gear carrier fixed to said driven shaft adjacent said second driving gear, a sun gear on said driven shaft adjacent said gear carrier, 9. planetarygear engaging said sun gear and said second driving gear, means to prevent movement of the gear carrier with respect to said sun gear to establish a direct drive between said second driving gear and said shaft and means to render said first-named means inoperative and restrain said sun gear whereby said shaft is rotated at a reduced speed with respect to said second driving gear.

2. An' ironer comprising a gear case, aboss formed in one side of said gear case, a driven shaft rotatably mounted in said boss having one end projecting from the gear case and the other end extending into the gear case toward the wall thereof opposite the boss, a driving gear mounted on said shaft for free rotation with respect thereto, a planet gear carrier'flrred to said shaft at said other 'end, a second driving gear supported for rotation with respect to the axis of said shaft by said gear carrier, a coil spring clutchinterposed between said two driving gears, a sun gear mounted for free rotation in one direction on said shaft, a planet gear mounted on said gear carrier in mesh with-said sun gear and said second driving gear and means including a uni-directional clutch to engage said gear carrier with said second drizing gear so as to rotate therewith and means to restrain said sun gear against rotation whereby said gear carrier rotates at a reduced speed with respect to said second driving gear.

3. An ironing machine comprising a gear case, a bearing boss formed in one side of said gear case, a shaft supported in said bearing boss and projecting toward the other side of the gear case, an opening formed in said gear case opposite said bearing boss to provide for the as-.

sembly of gearing on said shaft, a driving gear mounted for rotation near the central portion of said shaft, 'a hub on said driving gear pro- Jecting toward said opening, a gear carrier fixed to said shaft at the end thereof adjacent said opening, a second driving gear surrounding said gear carrier, a coiled spring clutch encompassing said hub and a part of said second driving gear, a sun gear rotatably mounted on said shaft, a planetary sear in mesh with said sun gear and said second driving gear, means to rotate'said gear carrier in unison with said second driving gear or at a reduced speed with respect thereto comprising a plate anchored to said sun gear, a clutch member mounted on said plate for sliding movement transverse to the axis of said shaft, means on said plate movable into the orbit of said planetary gear to prevent rotating movement of said gear carrier with respect to said sun gear, to establish a direct speed drive and means carried by said gear case to move said clutch means but of said orbit path and restrain said plate to establish a reduced speed drive through said planetary gearing.

4. An ironing machine comprising a gear case, a roll driving shaft supported in said gear case, a driving gear mounted for rotation on said shaft, a gear carrier fixed to said shaft, a second driving gear surrounding said gear carrier, a helicoid spring clutch engaging said two driving gears, a sun gear rotatabiy mounted on said shaft, a planetary gear on said gear carrier in mesh with said sun gear and said second driving gear, means to rotate said gear carrier in unison with said second driving gear or at a reduced speed with respect thereto, comprising a plate anchored to said sun gear, a clutch mem,

ber mounted on said plate for sliding movement said plate movable into the orbit of said planetary gear to prevent rotating movement of said gear carrier with respect to said sun gear, to

establish a direct speed drive and means carried by said gear case to move said clutch means out of said orbit and restrain said plate to establish a reduced speed drive through said planetary gearing.

5. An ironing machine comprising a support, a roll driving shaft rotatably mounted in said support, a driving gear mounted for free rotation on said roll driving shaft, a gear carrier flxed'to said shaft, a spring clutch operatively arranged in the chain of drive between said driving gear and said gear carrier, 9. sun gear mounted on said shaft adjacent said gear carrier, a planetary gear in mesh with said sun gear, a

second driving gear encompassing said gear car- I rier, planet gear and sun gear, a spring clutch interposed between said shaft and said sun gear,

whereby I rotation of said second driving gear operates said last-named spring clutch to engage said sun gear with said shaft and means to disengage said last-named spring clutch to effect a reduced speed drive through said gearing.

PAUL E. FRANTZ. 

